Portland is evolving from its once exclusively crunchy reputation, to a stylish yet understated urban scene we’re loving. Nothing proves it more than the opening of Parachute Home’s second store — a cozy-modern bath and bedding paradise based in Venice, just around the corner from our HQ.
We asked tastemaker Ariel Kaye, the brand’s founder and CEO, to give us a tour of Portland’s best through her eyes — crafty chic boutiques, coffee shops and waterfall hikes included. Grab our weekend wellness guide to Portland here, and discover a few new stylish spots to hit up below…
WM Goods:
This boutique is my new obsession and favorite store in Portland (besides Parachute, of course). They feature everything from beautiful clothes and shoes to lifestyle goods from fellow Venice-based brands like Canyon Coffee.
Alder and Co.:
This perfectly curated shop is brimming with beautiful clothes, accessories, textiles, paper goods and even flowers. Alder and Co.’s florist, Hilary Horvath, designed the floral arrangements for our Portland Store opening party – and guests were swooning!
Frances May:
I wish I could shop here every day (without having to look at price tags). This high-end clothing boutique carries designer duds for both men and women. The labels they stock are directional and hard to find – and everything is beautifully merchandised.
Eagle Creek:
Located along the Columbia River Gorge, Eagle Creek is a breathtaking hike with many waterfalls. I hit this trail last fall while visiting my best friend in Portland, and we could see the Chinook and coho salmon spawning in the river… pretty wild!
The Jupiter Hotel:
One of my favorite places to stay when visiting Portland. The hotel offers guests the option to book a room on ‘the chill side’ or the ‘bar side’ of the hotel. With Doug Fir – one of the best bars and music venues in all of Portland – on-site, it’s hard to skip out on the lively nightlife.
Parachute:
We recently opened in Portland, marking our second brick-and-mortar destination. The 550-square foot retail space is located at 820 NW 23rd Avenue in a historic Victorian home. It’s extremely rewarding to meet our customers in person and to discover how they engage with our products firsthand. Plus, the interior design is stunning. Each piece was carefully considered, creating something unique to Portland, but at the same time, familiar to the Parachute aesthetic.
Barista:
Conveniently located across the street from our new Portland store, this cafe serves up exceptional coffees from the world’s finest roasters. It’s beautiful and spacious (a great place to take meetings), and the same awesome contractor who built out the Parachute store also did Barista.
Toro Bravo:
The tapas here cannot be missed! The menu changes seasonally, meaning I get to try a new dish every visit. While the food is traditionally Spanish, Chef John Gorham adds his own inventive and delicious twist. P.S. The drinks are amazing too.
